TOPIC:

There is no better place to start than with the medals to the Commanding Officer of the ill-fated 13th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry - 45th (Irish Hunt), 46th (Belfast), 47th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) and 54th (Belfast) Companies. Lieutenant Colonel Basil Spragge, D.S.O., was taken prisoner at war at Lindley with almost all his Battalion on 31st May 1900.

His medals are in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Museum in Doncaster. He is photographed in the uniform of the Honourable Corps of Gentleman at Arms.

Justin

Justin
That is an excellent start to this thread, and I will look forward to future instalments with great expectations.
Regards
Brett

Hi Justin.....

My addition to your check list.......
From: F.M.P.

Mike

First name(s) Francis Warden
Last name Moncrieff
Service number 9430
Rank Trooper
Regiment 46 (Belfast) Company 13 Battalion Imperial Yeomanry

Other regiments/units
Unit: 46 (Belfast) Company 13 Battalion Imperial Yeomanry, Rank: Trooper, Number: 9430

Literary references
The National Archives WO128. Imperial Yeomanry, Soldiers' Documents, South African War. TDA 19000823 0921

Notes [The National Archives WO128. Imperial Yeomanry, Soldiers' Documents, South African War.] Moncreiff QSA Clasps: CC,OFS

Event detail Prisoner Of War on 31/05/1900 at Lindley
Event unit 46 (Belfast) Company 13 Battalion Imperial Yeomanry
Event source SAFF
Second event detail Released on 05/09/1900 at Nooitgedacht
Second event unit 46 (Belfast) Company 13 Battalion Imperial Yeomanry

The medals awarded to the Second-in-Command of the 13th Battalion were sold at a Dix, Noonan & Webb auction in 1999 (without photo).

Lot 634
Date of Auction: 9th December 1999
Sold for £720
Estimate: £500 - £600

Four: Lieutenant-Colonel A. G. Holland, 15th Hussars and Irish Yeomanry

Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Lieut., 15th Hussrs.); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 1 clasp, The Nile 1885-85 (Capt., 15/Husrs.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lt. Colonel, 13/Impl. Yeo.); Khedive’s Star 1884-6, contact marks and polishing but generally nearly very fine (4) £500-600

Footnote
Arthur Gambier Holland served with the 15th Hussars during both campaigns in Afghanistan. In the first campaign he served in the Quetta and Kandahar Field Forces, taking part in the advance on and occupation of Kandahar and Kalat-i-Ghilzai, and being present at the action of Takh-i-pul, when his squadron surprised and defeated the enemy cavalry, about 400 in number, on 4 January 1879. Holland was mentioned in despatches on this occasion. During the second campaign he served with the regiment in General Phayre’s Division (Medal). He next served in the Transvaal campaign during the 1st Boer War in 1881, for which no medals were awarded. He commanded the detachment of 2 officers and 42 men of the 15th Hussars that formed part of the Light Camel Regiment during the Nile Expedition 1884-85, and took part in the operations of the Desert Column including the engagement at Abu Klea Wells on the 16th and 17th February (Medal with clasp and Bronze Star).

He served with the 13th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry during the Boer war and was captured along with the entire Battalion in the disaster that befell them at Lindley in May 1900. Holland was second in command of the battalion under Colonel B. Spragge, who was subsequently cleared of blame at the enquiry which followed some months later. The casualties suffered by the 13th Battalion at Lindley amounted to 1 officer and 15 men killed; 5 officers and 37 men wounded; and 21 officers and 440 men taken prisoner. Lord Roberts said of the disaster: ‘I consider General Colvile mainly responsible for the surrender of the Irish Yeomanry and would not let him retain his command.’ Colvile was consequently removed from command at Gibraltar and when he would not retire he was made to do so.

9451 Edwin Doak 46th(Belfast) Company 13th IY.POW Lindley 31/05/1900. Released Nooitigedacht 5/09/1900.

14156 Corporal Ernest John Hodgson. 47th(Duke of Cambridge's Own) 13th IY. POW Lindley 31/05/1900. Released Barberton 13/09/1900.



He also appears on the IY Base Depot roll as Lieut. E. J. Hodgson with the script annotation " Lce Sgt. DCO Sqd IY (old yeoman) Lieut 28th Battn IY" This is not shown in his FMP service papers which show him discharged in South Africa on 23/10/00 and I can find no other reference to his service in South Africa although he seems to have returned as an invalid on board the Canada on October 24th 1901.



which should have entitled him to a South Africa 1901 clasp as well.